In early February 2026, the Cavs made a blockbuster midseason move: they traded young guard Darius Garland (then 26) and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for 11-time All-Star James Harden (then 36). The deal was driven by Cleveland’s push for immediate contention after strong regular-season performance but playoff shortcomings in prior years.
Many of us Cavs fans loved the trade, though the move also raised some eyebrows at the time due to the age gap and the fact that Garland was part of the team’s young core. Critics questioned trading a younger, cheaper player for an older veteran with a player option looming after the season.
Since then, the Clippers were bounced from the play-in tourny as Garland acknowledged he was basically playing on only nine toes. Meanwhile, Harden and the Cavs are thriving.
